Biscuit-facing machine



Jam, 29, B929 1,700,438

w. H. HUNGERFORDV BISCUIT FACING MACHINE I Filed 061:. 22, 1924 s'sheet -sheet 1 fi m 4 N Q jar/@7225 *1 w Ma v 67a flfluzyerfa a Q E I M w W Jan 29, 1929. 1,700,438

W. H. HUNGERFQRD BISCUIT FACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1924 s Shets-Sheet 2 g 5 g .klllmfv.

....,....,;;m-iiiium f Jan. 29, 1929.

W. HUNGERFORD BISCUIT- FACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1924 I5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

WARREN HUNGERFORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

BISCUIT-FACING macnmn' Application filed October 22, 1924. Serial No. 745,046.

My invention relates to a facing machine and particularly to a machine adapted to face articles having opposite sides of (hiferent contours and to deliver said artlcles to a stacking mechanism or to any other handling means with each article having the same face facing the same direction. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanylng drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through my device;

Figure 2 is a View on an enlarged scale along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 1s a detail on an enlarged scale of part of the feeding mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial section along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical section through a variant form of my device;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatieal plan View to illustrate the operation of the structure shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed view of the deflector plates shown in Figures 2 and 7. Y

Like parts are illustrated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings. A A are supporting frame members upon which are mounted the transverse members A) A and the side frame members A A.

,B. is an inclined. belt passing about the guide roller B and the drive roller B rotatably mounted in side frame members A'. The roller B is adjustable along the slot B", to adjust the inclination of the belt B. B is a hopper element inclosing the belt B and adjustable with it. The roller B is driven, for example by any suitable belt B, from the main drive shaft B.

C C are a plurality of laterall spaced longitudinal guides lying along tiie upper part of the belt B, and conforming to the are of the roller B and being provided with downwardly inclined sections C over- 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of lying the inclined chute C The guides C may be spaced apart a constant distance at their forward ends, and along the stretch overlying the belt B,'but I prefer to make the ownwardly inclined sections C laterally adjustable. the lateral adjusting means shown in Figure 4 in connection with the guides J J overlying the belt J. C is a rotary element, herein shown as provided with flaps or vanes C in line with the intervals between the guides C. I have herein shown the roller as having mounted on it groups of four each of said flaps or vanes, but any other suitable number might be used. It

should be understood that the belt B is driven upwardly in the direction of thearrow Figure 1 and that the rotary member C is rotated, for example by'the belt B in opposition thereto. 0- is vertically adjustable, and is preferably adjusted in such position that vanes C will just clear the articles being faced if they lie flat and in a single layer on the belt. Thus superposed artlcles cannot pass forwardly over theeonveyor. However, since occasionally the ar-' ticles may gather in the formation shown in Figure 8 and clog the machine, I provide on some of the vanes C a flexible member G which may be, for example, a bit of spring steel long enough to sweep the surface of the belt and to break the arch of the articles which are jammed, thus permitting the regular flow of articles up the belt.

Since the member C is positioned at the edge of the vanes C it does not prevent the movement of articles up the belt between the guides C.

Positioned beneath the end of the belt B and adapted to receive the articles fed between theguides C and down the chute C is a belt D, herein shown as horizontal, which moves about the drive roller D and the idler D, D being driven by means of the belt D as shown in Figure 1. D is a rotary element which may be similar to C and is, like it, driven in opposition to the travel of the belt D, to prevent the passage I may use, for example,

of superposed articles along the belt. D"

may be vertically adjusted along the slots D to compensate 'for articles of varying thickness.

E is a rotary element, herein shown as v a brush positioned in substantially horizon tal alignment with the idler D which is rotated preferably in unison with the movement of the belt D so that the articles fed along the belt D are drawn between the op posed end of the belt and the roller or brush and faced by the pressure of said opposed members.

An article with one flat face and one convex face will invariably tilt with'its convex face down and said convex face will engage one or the other of the inclined slides G and will be delivered convex side down to the succeeding conveyor H. In order .to maintain sufficient compression to face the disk the member E is preferably made of resilient material, and is positioned so close to the end of the belt D that a constant compression is exerted against the articles facing therebetween. The roller E may be adjusted for example along the horizontal slot E The deflector plates or guides G are positioned with their apex beneath the point of opposition of the belt I) and the brush E. They may be pivoted in relation to each other and in relation to their carrier element G which is adustable for example by means of the slotted leaf G. The horizontal slot G in the member A permits of horizontal adjustment of the entire deflector member. The angular adjustment of the members G is provided by the arcuate slotted arms G and the adjusting screw G. The purpose of these various adjustments is, in the first place, to permit the mechanism to be properly adjusted. to

,tion to the direction of movement of the belt. The stop is longitudinally adjustable by means of the slotted leaf H and the adjusting screw H.

Positioned beneath the conveyor H is a similar endless belt. conveyor J travelling in the opposite direction. In order to deliver the articles being faced from the discharge end of the belt H tothe belt'J, I provide an arcuatc chute J with a plurality of longitudinal guide elements, each guide element comprisinga tapered or inclined point member J and side elements J secured thereto.

, These "side elements J continue along the top of the belt J and are downwardly curved about its discharge end. They are made laterally adjustable in relation to each other in order to permit the intervening lanes down which the articles being faced travel to be adjusted to receive articles of differing widths. Any suitable lateral adjusting means may be provided, but I illustrate herein the transverse shafts J provided with the reverse screws J 1 J 8 in mesh with the screw threaded members J 9 J secured to the tops of each pair of elements J". The rotation of the crank J will have" the effect of moving each pair of side elements J either closer together or further apart, depending upon the direction of rotation. At the discharge end of the belt J, as it passes over the roller J I provide .a plurality of downwardly depending flexible spring steel leaves K mounted, for example, on the transverse element K and positioned between each pair' of side elements -J and in opposition to the transverse chute or back plate K .K is any suitable rotary element upon which are mounted a plurality of notched wheels K shaped to provide the relatively deep notches K L is any suitable sorting table, divided into a plurality of paths or tracks L by the longitudinal partitions L On these tracks are the follower blocks 1L It will be realized that althou h I have indicated a practically operating evice, never:

theless many changes might loe made, in size,

number, shape and disposition 'of parts without departing from the spirit of my in-.

vention. I wish my drawings and description be taken therefore as in a general sense illustrative rather than as limiting me to the specific mechanismhe'rein described and shown.

The use and operation of. my invention are as follows:

The most obvious use of my mechanism is for-the facing. of biscuits or cookies which are prevailingly made by drop )ing batter on a flat heated surface, and therefore naturally are formed with one fiat side and one generally convex side.

However, I do not wish to be limited to this use of my invention, since it may be applied for the facing of articles of widely differing material and shape. 1

I provide a hopper into which the articles to be faced are deposited. The bottom of the hopper is formed by an upwardly inclined belt B which is continually driven, at a relatively slow speed to convey from the hopper the articles faced. Part way up the belt I position a brush or roller or any.

other suitable member, and rotate it in opposition to the movement of the belt, and space it from the belt at such a height as to prevent the passage up the belt of superposed articles or groups of articles. Just above this retrograde rotary member I posisuch as is shown in tion guides for segregatingthe articles being faced into separate longitudinal paths. The first stretch of these longitudmal 'g'uides need not be adjustable, but I prefer to have the downwardly inclined stretch C laterally adjustable, to permit the mechanism to handle articles of various size. The lateral adjusting mechanism, when used, may be Figures 4 'and 5. It will be noted that the chute C is steeply inclined, and that it is along this steeply inclined portion that the guides are preferably made laterally adjustable. Since the guides and chute are at this point set ata steep incline, the effect of the friction between the guides and the dropping article is almost nil, and there is therefore no tendency at this point for the articles to pile up owing to the damping effect of friction against the guides. In order to prevent the articles being faced from packing or bridging, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 8, between the ends of the guides C, I provide a flexible finger C on one of the flaps C, in opposition to each lane of travel between the guides C. This flexible finger sweeps the belt, and is sufficient to break 'ot the articles being Thus a constant stream sorted passes up each of the lanes and down the chute C to the top of the belt D. g

The rotary element up any such 1am.

I), driven. in opposition to the movement of the belt D, pre,'

vents any tendency of the articles to pile up or superpose, and permits their feed forward only in a single layer.

The'articles then pass over the end of the belt D about the roller D and are compressed between it and the opposed brush E. The facing operation of the opposed belt and brush is as follows: It a parallel sided disk were fed between the belt and,

brush, it would drop from between them in substantially vertical' position, since the shortest distance through the disk at any one point would be a line perpendicular to each face of the disk.

in the normal use of the present invention,

articles are fed between the roll and the belt which have one plane side and one concave side, the shortest line through the article at its outer edge, as it escapes from between the brush and the belt, is not vertical to the plane side but inclined to it. Thus, in're spouse to the pressure of the opposed brush and roller, the article will take that position which brings the shortest distance through it into alignment with the axis of compression, and the article will tilt, with the convex side down. In this position it drops upon one or the other of the deflector and is delivered thence, concave side down, to the belt H. The slides G are sufliciently close to the belt and the'brush so that the article is not released until it guides G which sto )s their retrograde movement However when,

- Those which travel downwardly to the right asshown in Figure 1 strikes the stop H, and drops th in on the belt H. This prevents any tendency there might otherwise be for the articles to pile up or be delayed at that point.

As the articles travel along the belt H they pass beneath the rotary element H whlch serves to limit the passage of articles to one layer. This is necessary, since sometimes an article sliding G drops upon an article moving beneath it along. the belt H.

In the form of my device shown in Figure 1, in order to reverse the facing-of the articles to position them convex side up I feed them to the reversing chute J 3 which delivers them to the belt J. Extending along the chute J a are the separating points J, to which are. secured the longitudinal guide elements J which are laterally adjustable, as above described, to vary the width of the intervening lanes. Since the chute J is arcuate the articles drop freely along it and in general only contact the lower in clined portio Since the articles are either dropping freely or sliding down a steep incline, the friction of the articles against the longitudinal guides is not sufficient to damp the movement of the articles or to cause them to gather or pile up on the chute.

The articles then pass fiat side down along the belt J and pass over the roller J and downwardly in vertical position with their fiat sides in opposition to the vertical chute element K They are compressed thereagainst bythe spring fingers K, as shown in Figure 3, being constrained to a vertical position as they drop downwardly upon the star-wheel element K The lower end of the spring finger serves to hold the articles against the star-wheel and this renders it relatively unimportant whether each article falls into a notch in the star-wheel l-or whether it is held against the surface of the wheel, by the spring K. In any case. as the rotation of the wheel carries the article downit clears the lower end of the spring K and is pressed forwardly along the stack- In the variant form'or" Figure I omit.

down the left slide the belt H as feed in articles directly as I the belt J and between the horizontal guides J, and beneath the rotary element H similar to .the element H of Figure 2.

The articles then travel to the right along the belt J and are faced along the table L with the convex face of each article facing toward instead of away from the star-'wheel. It is possible to feed'the articles to the stars wheel with their convex sides facing the wheel, because of the action of the spring fingers K, which hold each article against the star-wheel until it is carried, by its rotation to a point beneath the end. of the sprin finger and can be thrust, by the star-whee outwardly along the stacking table, Thus .it does not really make any diiference whether or not the article drops into a notch on the star-wheel, and the main function of the outwardly inclinedarms of the wheel ,is' to thrust the articles outwardly along the stacking table.

' I articles being till la order tominiinize the tendency of the faced to pile u and clog ll drive each helt at a sli htly taster speed than that of the preceding belt.

ll claim: I

1. ln s. lacing machine a plurality of conveyor helts, each moving'faster than the preceding belt, and means for passing from belt to belt the articles being faced, and rotary facing -means positioned interinediate two of said belts and in positive cooperation with one of such belts.

2. In a facing machine a plurality of conveyor belts, each moving faster than the preceding belt, and means for passing from belt to belt the articles being faced, and facing means positioned intermediate two of said belts comprising a rotary element positioned in opposition to the end of one of belt to belt the articles being faced, and fac- 1 'ing means positioned intermediate two of said belts co nprisinga rotary element positioned in opposition to the end of onset said belts and an inclined faced guide positioned beneath the area of closest approach of the belt and the rotary element.

5. A deflector guide for use with opposed facing elements of the t pe described, comprising a supporting element, and a pluralmousse ay of slides outwardly inclined directions, and ,meansfor angular relation.-

'6. A deflector guide for use with o facingelements of the type describe prising a supporting element,-and a plurality' of slides outwardly inclined in opposite directions, and means for adusting their angular relation and means or vertically adyustinq' the deflector and slides as a unit.

7. A efiector guide for use with opposed facing elements of the type described,'comprising a supporting element, and a pluralposed "ity of slides outwardly inclined in opposite and means for adjusting theirangular relation and means for horizontally (lllGClllOIlS,

adjusting the deflector and guides as a unit;

8, A deflector guide for use with opposed facing elements of the type described, comprising a supporting element, and a plurality of slides outwardly inclined in opposite directions, and means for vertically and for horizontally adjusting the deflector.

9. In a facing machine a plurality of opposed facing -elements, -a deflector therebeneath having slide elements downwardly and outwardly inclined, in opposite directions, a horizontal conveyor positioned beneath said deflector and means for actuating it, and a stop positioned opposite that side of the deflector which faces in opposition to the directon of travel of the conveyor.

in opposite adjusting their Ell '10. In a facing machine a plurality of opposed facing elements, a deflector therebeneat-li having slide elements downwardly and outwardly inclined, in opposite directions, a horizontal conveyor positioned beneath said deflector andmeans for actuating it, and a stop positioned opposite that side of the deflector which faces in opposition to the direction of travel of the conveyor and means for adjusting said stop toward and away from said deflector.

ll. In a facing machine an endless belt and gliding means therefor, means for actuating it, an opposed rotary facing element positioned in opposition to one end of said belt, and means for rotating it. y

12. In a facing machine an endless belt .and' guiding means therefor, means for actuating it, an opposed rotary facing clement positioned in \opposition to one end of said belt, and means for giving ita peripheral movement'- substantially equal to the rate of travel of the belt.

13. In a facing machine an endless bolt and guiding means therefor, means for actuating it, an opposed rotary facing clemcntl positioned in opposition to one end of said belt, and means for rotating it, and

ward and away from the end of saidbelt.

14. In a facing machine an endless belt,

guidin means therefor, means for actuating it, and a rotary facing element .yieldingly means for'adjust-ing said'rotary element toopposed to one end of said belt, and means for rotating it. p

15. In a facing machine an endless belt having a substantially horizontal upper reach adapted to convey the articles being faced, an opposed rotary element lying in substantially the same horizontal plane as the belt, and means for rotating it, and means for receiving from. said opposed belt and rotary element the articles faced there- 16. In a facing machine an endless belt having a substantially horizontal upper reach adapted to convey the articles being faced, an opposed rotary element lying in substantially the same horizontal plane as the belt, and means for rotating it, and means for receiving from said opposed belt and rotary element the articles facedthereby, and means for adjusting the distance between the end of said belt and said rotary element.

17. In a facing machine an endless belt having a substantially horizontal upper reach adapted to convey the articles being faced, an opposed rotary element lying in substantially the same horizontal plane as the belt, and means for rotating it, and means for receiving from said opposed belt and rotary element the articles faced thereby and a second rotary element positioned above said belt, and means for rotating it in opposition-to the direction of movement of the articles conveyed by said belt.

18.'In a facing machine an endless belt having a substantially horizontal upper reach adapted to convey the articles'being faced, an opposed rotary element lying in substantially the same horizontal plane as the belt, and means for rotating it, and means for receiving'from said opposed belt and rotary element the articles faced thereby and a second rotary element positioned above said belt, andmeans for rotating it in opposition to the direction of movement of the articles conveyed by saidbelt and means for vertically adjusting it in relation to said belt. I

19. In a facing machine, a hopper, an inclined belt forming the bottom thereof, and means for actuating it, a plurality of longitudinal guides positioned along said belt, a rotary element positioned above said belt and adjacent the ends of said guides, the axis ofthe rotary element being parallel with the aligned ends of said guides, and means for rotating it in opposition to the movement of said belt.

20; In a facing machine a hopper, an inclined belt forming the bottom thereof, and means for actuating it, a plurality of longitudinal guides positioned along said belt, a rotary element positioned above said belt and adjacent the ends of said guides, and means for rotating it in opposition to the movement of said belt and a plurality of radial members positioned on said rotary gitudinal guides positioned along said belt,

a rotary element positioned above said belt and adjacent the ends of said guides, and means for rotating it in opposition to the movement of said belt and a plurality of radial members positioned on said rotary element, and in line with the spaces between said guides, and terminating above the sur- I face of the belt. and additional elements positioned on said' rotary elements and of greater radius than said first mentioned radial members. 1

22. In a facing machine a hopper, an inclined belt. forming the bottom thereof, and means for actuating it, a plurality of longi tudinal guides positioned along said. belt, a rotary element positioned above said belt and adjacent the ends of said guides, and means for rotating it in opposition to the movement of said belt and a plurality of ra dial. members positioned on said rotary ele ment, and in line with the spaces between said guides, and terminating above the surface of the belt and flexible strips mounted upon said rotary element and of substantially greater length than said first mentioned radial members.

23. In a facing machine, opposed facing elements adapted to direct pressure against articles passing therebetween and means'for moving them in unison, a horizontal conveyor therebeneath adapted to receive the articles faced thereby, and longitudinal guides positioned along said conveyor.

24. In a facing machine, opposed facing elements adapted to direct pressure against articles passing therebetween and means for moving them in unison, a horizontal conveyor thercbeneath adapted to receive the articles faced thereby, and longitudinal guides positioned along said conveyor, said longitudinal guides being transversely adjustable to control the distance between adjacent guides. V

25. In a facing machine, va plurality of conveyor belts, and means for driving them, a curved chute extending from the discharge end of one of said belts to another belt, and a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal guides positioned along said chute the chute and guides overhanging the discharge I overlying said belt, and means iordriving it in opposition to the movement of said belt.

27. In a. facing machine, opposed rotaryfacing element's, a deflector positioned be neath the zone of opposition of said opposed elements, abelt positioned beneath said del flector, and means adjacent said belt for ill preventing the passage along said belt of superposed articles.

28. In a facing machine, opposed rotary facing elements, a deflector positioned beneath the; zone of opposition of said opposed elements, a belt positioned beneath said deflector, and moons adjacent said belt for preventing the passage along said belt of superposed articles, comprising a rotary element overlying said belt, and means for .drivin it in opposition to the movement of 1,7oo,4se I of superposed articles, comprising a vertisai sition to the movement ofthe be t.

30. In a facing machine a pluralitfi calllybadjustable rotary element overlying conveyor belts and means for (in 'ng t an arcuate overhanging reversing chute elt, and means for drivin it in oppo-- adapted to receive articles discharged from the discharge end of oneoi' said belts, and to deliver sai articles to another-belt, and longitudinal guides positioned along said chute. 1 l v 31. In a facin .mechine a plurality of conveyorbelts an means for driving them, an arcuate overhanging, reversing. chute adapted to receive erticlesdischarged from the discharge end of one of said belts, and to deliver said articles to another belt, and longitudinal guides positioned alon said u v chute," and means for laterally 'adwsting them. 7

Signed at Chicago, count State oillllinois, this 13th ay of October,

WARREN n. nonennronn;

of Cook and 

